John Underwood Antiquarian Books

GLOBE BY CUSHEE AND WRIGHT

MINIATURE CELESTIAL GLOBE CIRCA 1747. c.1750

Description

CUSHEE, Richard. London circa 1747. Miniature celestial globe, no maker’s mark, approx 7 cm diameter (23.2 cm circumference). 12 printed paper gores laid over a core. New brass axis rod and leather washers, mounted in original brass scale. Now contained in a purpose made box, marbled paper covered.
We attribute this miniature celestial globe to Richard Cushee, a London globe maker. We have found a similar globe with its brass stand dated 1747 giving us an approximate date for this example.
Cushee worked closely with the instrument maker Thomas Wright who probably made orreries and quadrants, as well as the brass armatures and stands often found mounting similar terrestrial and celestial globes. Adverts for Cushee and Wright show where they worked in London : "New and Correct Globes according to the latest Observations. Made and Sold by Richard Cushee at the Globe and Sun between St. Dunstan's Church & Chancery Lane and Tho: Wright Instrument-maker to His Majesty at the Orrery and Globe near Salisbury Court, Fleet Street, London. Estates Survey'd Also Maps Drawn and Engrav'd." Richard Cushee was certainly at the Globe & Sun in Fleet St. in 1732 .
Condition of the globe is generally Very Good. There are a few areas where the varnish has worn away without damaging the gores , and one tiny area where the paper is lacking. We have remounted the globe in a box to display and protect it with a reproduced label for Cushee and Wright .We have seen similar globes mounted in boxes, on wooden and brass stands, and contained in fish skin cases.